West Cumbria hosted its inaugural Culture Bazaar, with hundreds of attendees exploring global dance, music, and cuisine.

The event, held at Workington Academy, was organised by Multicultural Cumbria, with activities ranging from dhol drumming and Bhangra dance to cookery lessons and orchestral performances.

Saj Ghafoor OBE, the chief executive of Multicultural Cumbria, emphasised the importance of cultural exchange.

She said: "It’s important to engage people with different diasporas and cultures.

"You can’t change people’s perspectives if they are never exposed to different cultures.

“Culture Bazaar is about bringing everybody together, having a party and celebrating how diverse we are. It’s a free event and it’s accessible to everyone no matter what their background is.”

Cumbria's diversity has been on the rise, with over 80 nationalities and more than 70 languages evident within the county's community.

The Culture Bazaar aims to be an avenue for exchange and acceptance, a sentiment echoed by Yvonne Reay-Bennett, who works with the West Cumbria Refugee Support Network.

Yvonne, 60, from Great Broughton, brought an Afghan mother and her five children along to the Bazaar.

She said: “They were nervous. Apart from going to school, they haven’t been in a social situation like this. But everybody is friendly, everybody smiles and says hello. It’s a safe space. There isn’t anywhere like this where families can come together and share their experiences.”

Refugee Maria Laskarzhevska from Ukraine also participated, selling plywood crafts made by her husband to support fellow displaced Ukrainians.

She said: “It’s good to be able to meet different people and to remind people about Ukraine – that it’s still terrible there and nothing has changed.

“I came (to live in Cumbria) because it’s safe for my daughter here. I don’t know whether or when we will ever go back.”

Elaine Rémy, from Windermere, runs Vie’s Jamaican Rum Cakes.

She said: “Vie was my mum, part of the Windrush generation. I started baking to keep her legacy going. I’ve loved talking to people who try the cakes and smell the different rums. I tell the story about my mum, which is really important to me.”